Tabloid gallantly rescued a donkey forced to parachute over a beach. But the Sun apparently doesn't know its donkeys

[Peikko 1,575]

The Sun backed the wrong Russian donkey, owner claims

Tabloid gallantly rescued a donkey forced to parachute over a beach. But the Sun apparently doesn't know its donkeys

Manya (not Anapka) is flown over a Black Sea beach last month, in an advertising stunt that angered animal rights supporters. Photograph: Taman News/AFP A Russian businessman has made an #### out of the Sun, according to reports in Moscow.

Two weeks ago the British red-top splashed on news that it had rescued the pitiful Russian donkey who made headlines worldwide when a tour operator forced her to parasail over a beach on the Black Sea.

In classic Sun style, the newspaper followed up with a string of stories recounting how it had whisked the beast, named Anapka, away from its wicked owner. Anapka has since been pictured at an elite Kremlin stables where she is getting massages, eating organic carrots and looking "####-stonishingly healthy".

But Russia's own tabloid press said today there was just one hitch: it's the wrong donkey.

While Anapka "lives it up at the Kremlin riding school, getting hot baths, being rubbed with creams and taken to the solarium, it turns out it's all for nothing," the Komsomolskaya Pravda daily noted gleefully.

The real four-legged victim, it said, was a donkey called Manya, and she remains by the Black Sea while Anapka – a fake, sold to the Sun for 70,000 roubles (£1,500) – revels in luxury.

Vasily Gorobets, who set up the flying stunt at Golubitskaya on the Sea of Azov in southern Russia in mid July, and was pilloried by the Sun as a result, said the genuine protagonist was safe at home. "I can't believe they didn't notice the trick," he added. "Manya's with me and I'm guarding her closely. I wouldn't give her away for anything."

Pictures of a donkey being fastened to a multi-coloured parachute and then dragged by a boat, braying in fear, over the sea for half an hour caused global outrage last month. But investigators said they could not bring animal cruelty charges because the donkey received no physical wounds. That was when the Sun stepped in with a perfect silly season stunt to rescue the creature.

Now it appears the tabloid – not knowing about Manya – bought Anapka from a businessman who had loaned her out to Gorobets for the summer and who claimed she was the one compelled to fly.

A representative for Brigitte Bardot, the animal rights campaigner who complained to Russian president Dmitry Medvedev about the stunt, confirmed that a veterinary surgeon had told her Anapka was a fake.

Gorobets said Manya was safe and none the worse for her 30-metre high ride above the sea. "She's well," he said. "Donkeys aren't afraid of heights. I put her into the sky to give her a richer life."

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Edited August 6, 2010 by Madame Cleo

[^_^ 5,021]

Gorobets said Manya was safe and none the worse for her 30-metre high ride above the sea. "She's well," he said. "Donkeys aren't afraid of heights. I put her into the sky to give her a richer life."

Richer life? Dude, it's a fu##ing donkey.

[Peikko 1,575]

The whole story beggars belief, from the fact that someone would do such a thing, to the Sun rescuing the wrong donkey, to the rescued donkey being massaged and fed organic carrots. Nuts.

[Ban Hammer 14,291]

Richer life? Dude, it's a fu##ing donkey.

i guess people gotta feel good about something.

[mawilson 2,133]

The whole story beggars belief, from the fact that someone would do such a thing, to the Sun rescuing the wrong donkey, to the rescued donkey being massaged and fed organic carrots. Nuts.

Who would do such a thing?

Cleo, six national space programs have flown animals into *space* - dogs, monkeys, guinea pigs.

Somehow a parasailing donkey doesn't seem like a huge deal to me.

[Peikko 1,575]

Who would do such a thing?

Cleo, six national space programs have flown animals into *space* - dogs, monkeys, guinea pigs.

Somehow a parasailing donkey doesn't seem like a huge deal to me.

I can understand animals being used in order to further scientific research but not just for 'fun' or some kind of cynical commercial stunt so, for me it is a bit more of a deal although the fires burning in Russia and the floods in Pakistan are much more of a deal, obviously.

[Nagishkaw 510]

Dang!

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

Are they going to offer this Jacka$$ therapy? Prolly not that thing will render out to at least 10 gallons of elmers glue.

[Ban Hammer 14,291]

Are they going to offer this Jacka$$ therapy? Prolly not that thing will render out to at least 10 gallons of elmers glue.

since the jackazz fooled everyone, the democratic party is interested in buying it now

[Pinocchio Liberal 268]

since the jackazz fooled everyone, the democratic party is interested in buying it now

Indeed! That would make AJ an excellent mount.

Edited August 6, 2010 by Col. Lingus

[Pooky 3,876]

The whole story beggars belief, from the fact that someone would do such a thing, to the Sun rescuing the wrong donkey, to the rescued donkey being massaged and fed organic carrots. Nuts.

Come on, Cleo. It's The Sun, FFS. I'm surprised they didn't put it on Page 3.